Clamshell housing for dispensing tube of metering dispenser

ABSTRACT

A housing for a dispensing tube of a metering dispenser comprises a mounting half and a strike half carried by the mounting half. A channel for a dispensing tube is defined in the mounting half, and a plunger aperture is defined through the channel. The strike half pivots, relative to the mounting half, between a first pivotal position at least partially covering the channel and a second pivotal position exposing the channel and also slides relative to the mounting half, at least when the strike half is in the first pivotal position, between a first slide position obstructing pivotal movement of the strike half out of the first pivotal position and a second slide position permitting such movement. When the strike half is in the first pivotal position and the first slide position, a plunger strike surface on the strike half is in registration with and facing the plunger aperture.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/880,016 filed on Sep. 10, 2010, the teachings of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to metering dispensers, and moreparticularly to housings for holding the flexible dispensing tube of ametering dispenser in place for a plunger that opens and closes thetube.

BACKGROUND

Solenoid-driven metering systems are well known in the food servicearts, and are used for metered dispensing of liquids such as cream andmilk, and granular solids such as sugar, for beverages such as coffeeand tea. Such systems are sold under the trademark SureShot DispensingSystems® by A.C. Dispensing Equipment Inc., having an address at 100Dispensing Way, Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada B4C 4H2.

FIGS. 1 to 2B show an exemplary prior art solenoid-driven meteringsystem 10. The metering system 10 comprises a flexible dispensing tube12, a plastic housing 14 surrounding a portion of the dispensing tube12, and a solenoid plunger 16. Other components of the solenoid-drivenmetering system, such as the solenoid itself, related control systems,the support structure and other elements have been omitted for clarityof illustration; these elements and their placement will be apparent toone skilled in the art.

Referring specifically to FIG. 1, an upper end 12A of the dispensingtube 12 communicates with a reservoir of the material to be metered (notshown) and a lower end 12B communicates with an outlet (not shown),which may simply be an open end of the dispensing tube 12. In a typicalexample, the reservoir is a flexible plastic bag containing milk orcream which is sealed except that it opens into an attached dispensingtube 12 to allow the milk or cream to be dispensed. The dispensing tube12 is arranged generally vertically, with the upper end 12A above thelower end 12B, so that material will flow downwardly through the tubefrom the upper end 12A to the lower end 12B under the influence ofgravity, unless the dispensing tube 12 is constricted.

The housing 14 comprises two opposed halves 14A, 14B removably hingedlysecured to one another in a clamshell arrangement by a hinge 18 andsecurable around the dispensing tube 12 in a closed configuration. Twoopposed channels 20A, 20B defined in the tube-receiving faces of the twoopposed halves 14A, 14B cooperate to define a vertical passageway 20through the housing 14 for the dispensing tube 12. The half 14A of thehousing 14 facing the solenoid plunger 16 has a plunger aperture 22which exposes the dispensing tube 12. The housing 14 is maintained inthe closed configuration by a thumbscrew 19 that is rotatably journalledin a bore (not shown) through the half 14B of the housing 14 that doesnot face the solenoid plunger 16 and is threadedly received in acorrespondingly positioned threaded aperture 21 (FIG. 1) in the half 14Afacing the solenoid plunger 16. The threaded aperture 21 is formed in ametal insert 23 which is in turn secured in a larger aperture in thehalf 14A facing the solenoid plunger 16, so as to provide improvedstrength relative to the plastic from which the housing 14 is formed.

Typically, a temperature sensor insert 17 formed from aluminum isinstalled in the channel 20A in the half 14A facing the solenoid plunger16. The insert 17 carries a temperature sensor such as a thermistor (notshown) and engages the dispensing tube 12 so that the insert 17 willassume the approximate temperature of the material in the dispensingtube 12 and allow this temperature to be detected by the temperaturesensor.

The solenoid plunger 16 comprises a solenoid-actuable armature shaft 24and a plunger head 26 secured to one end of the armature shaft 24. Theplunger head 26 is formed from plastic and comprises a base 28 securedto the armature shaft 24, four support members 30, a disc-shaped portion32 and a closure member 34. The support members 30 are ogee-shaped andarranged in cruciform relation to one another, and extend outwardly fromthe base 28 to support the disc-shaped portion 30, which in turnsupports the closure member 34.

When assembled, the plunger aperture 22 in the half 14A of the housing14 facing the solenoid plunger 16 is in registration with the closuremember 34 on the plunger head 26.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the solenoid plunger 16 isarranged for reciprocal motion toward and away from the housing 14 underthe control of the solenoid (not shown).

The “resting” or “closed” position of the solenoid plunger 16 is shownin FIG. 2A; in this position the closure member 34 on the plunger head26 has been received in the plunger aperture 22 in the half 14A of thehousing 14 facing the solenoid plunger 16, and the plunger 16 may bemaintained in this position by, for example, a suitable biasing membersuch as a spring (not shown). In this position, the closure member 34compresses the dispensing tube 12 and pinches it against the back wall36 of the passageway 20 defined by the channels 20A, 20B (FIG. 1) in thetwo halves 14A, 14B of the housing 14. This pinching of the dispensingtube 12 substantially completely obstructs the dispensing tube 12,inhibiting material flow past the closure member 34. Typically, the half14B opposite the half 14A having the plunger aperture 22 includes astrike plate (not shown) for the plunger, typically formed fromaluminum, that is integrated into the back wall 36 of the passageway tobe in registration with the plunger aperture 22.

When it is desired to dispense material, the solenoid (not shown) isactuated to move the solenoid plunger 16 into the “active” or “open”position, as shown in FIG. 2B, for a fixed period of time beforedisengaging the solenoid and allowing the solenoid plunger 16 to returnto the “rest” or “closed” position shown in FIG. 2A. During the periodof time that the solenoid plunger 16 is in the “active” or “open”position (FIG. 2B), the dispensing tube 12 is unobstructed and apredetermined volume of liquid or granular material is able to move pastthe position of the solenoid plunger 16 before the dispensing tube 12 isagain obstructed as the solenoid plunger 16 returns to the “rest” or“closed” position (FIG. 2A).

The plunger head 26 is secured to the armature shaft 24 by way of a tab38 extending from the base 28 of the plunger head 26 and which isreceived in a corresponding slot 40 at the end of the armature shaft 24and held in place by a rivet 42.

When a reservoir of the material being metered, such as a bag of creamor milk, is empty and must be replaced, a user will unscrew thethumbscrew 19 and then separate the two opposed halves 14A, 14B bypivoting the half 14B having the thumbscrew 19 away from the other half14A, which is mounted to the dispenser, so as to expose the dispensingtube 12. This enables the user to remove the empty bag and itsassociated dispensing tube 12 and install a new, full bag and insert theassociated new dispensing tube 12 into the channel 20A. The user thenpivots the half 14B having the thumbscrew 19 back toward the other half14A, trapping the new dispensing tube 12 in the vertical passageway 20,and then screws the thumbscrew 19 back into the threaded aperture 21.This procedure is time consuming, especially in the context of aquick-service restaurant, where seconds count and customers expect to beserved in less than a minute. Moreover, with repeated use, thethumbscrew 19 may develop a tendency to bind in the threaded aperture21, making it more difficult to screw and unscrew and thereby increasingboth the difficulty of changing the reservoir as well as the timerequired to do so.

In addition, the barrel portions 18B of the plastic hinge 18 joining thetwo halves 14A, 14B are prone to breakage, as shown by the arrow “B” inFIG. 2. Such breakage requires that the entire housing 14 be replaced,necessitating a costly maintenance call and also requiring that themetering dispenser be taken out of service.

SUMMARY

A housing for a dispensing tube of a metering dispenser comprises amounting half for mounting the housing to a metering dispenser and astrike half for receiving plunger strikes. The strike half is carried bythe mounting half. The mounting half has a mounting half tube channeldefined therein for receiving a dispensing tube and also has a mountinghalf tube channel for receiving a plunger, and the strike half has aplunger strike surface. The strike half is pivotally carried by themounting half so as to be pivotable, relative to the mounting half,between a first pivotal position in which the strike half at leastpartially covers the mounting half tube channel and a second pivotalposition in which the strike half exposes the mounting half tubechannel. The strike half is further slidably carried by the mountinghalf so as to be slidable relative to the mounting half, at least whenthe strike half is in the first pivotal position, between a first slideposition in which pivotal movement of the strike half relative to themounting half from the first pivotal position toward the second pivotalposition is obstructed, and a second slide position in which pivotalmovement of the strike half relative to the mounting half from the firstpivotal position to the second pivotal position is permitted. At leastwhen the strike half is in the first pivotal position and in the firstslide position, the plunger strike surface is in registration with andfacing the plunger aperture to receive a plunger head.

In one embodiment, the strike half is hingedly carried by the mountinghalf by way of a pivot extending between the mounting half and thestrike half and on which the strike half is rotatably received so as tobe rotatable about the pivot between the first pivotal position and thesecond pivotal position, and the strike half is further slidable alongthe pivot, at least when the strike half is in the first pivotalposition, between the first slide position and the second slideposition.

In certain embodiments, one of the mounting half and the strike half hasat least one locking finger and the other one of the mounting half andthe strike half has at least one latch arm extending therefrom, witheach latch arm forming a receiving slot for receiving a respectivelocking finger. When the strike half is in the first pivotal positionand the first slide position, each locking finger is in registrationwith its respective latch arm, inside the receiving slot formed by therespective latch arm, so that each latch arm engages its respectivelocking finger to obstruct movement of the strike half from the firstpivotal position toward the second pivotal position. When the strikehalf is in the first pivotal position and the second slide position,each locking finger is out of registration with its respective latch armand outside of the receiving slot formed by the respective latch armwhereby movement of the strike half from the first pivotal positiontoward the second pivotal position is permitted.

In particular embodiments, the at least one locking finger comprises aplurality of locking fingers spaced longitudinally apart from oneanother to define a locking finger gap between each adjacent pair oflocking fingers, and the at least one latch arm comprises a plurality oflatch arms spaced longitudinally apart from one another to define alatch arm gap between each adjacent pair of latch arms. When the strikehalf moves between the first pivotal position and the second pivotalposition while in the second slide position, at least one latch arm fitsin a corresponding locking finger gap, and at least one locking fingerfits in a corresponding locking arm gap.

The locking finger(s) or the latch arm(s), or both, may each have atapered guide surface for guiding the strike half into the second slideposition as the strike half moves into the first pivotal position.

In some embodiments, the strike half has a strike half tube channeldefined therein, and the strike half tube channel cooperates with themounting half tube channel, when the strike half is in the first pivotalposition, to form a dispensing tube channel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features will become more apparent from the followingdescription in which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view showing a portion of a prior artsolenoid-based metering system including a prior art solenoid plunger;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the prior art metering system ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is a side view of the portion of the prior art metering systemof FIG. 1, showing the prior art solenoid plunger in a first positionthat inhibits flow of material through the prior art metering system;

FIG. 2B is a side view of the portion of the prior art metering systemof FIG. 1, showing the prior art solenoid plunger in a second positionthat permits flow of material through the prior art metering system;

FIG. 3 is a first top perspective view of an exemplary housing for adispensing tube of a metering dispenser, showing the housing in a closedand locked configuration;

FIG. 4 is a second top perspective view of the housing of FIG. 3,showing the housing in a closed and locked configuration and showingpassage of a flexible dispensing tube through the housing;

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the housing of FIG. 3, showingthe housing in an open configuration;

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the housing of FIG. 3, showing thehousing in two alternate open configurations;

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the housing of FIG. 3, showing thehousing moving between an open and a closed configuration;

FIG. 8 is a first side view of the housing of FIG. 3, showing thehousing moving toward a closed configuration;

FIG. 9 is the same side view as in FIG. 8, showing the housing in aclosed and unlocked configuration;

FIG. 10 is the same side view as in FIG. 8, showing the housing in aclosed and locked configuration;

FIG. 11 is a second side view of the housing of FIG. 3, showing thehousing in a closed and unlocked configuration;

FIG. 12 is the same side view as in FIG. 11, showing the housing in aclosed and locked configuration;

FIG. 13 is the same perspective view as in FIG. 4, showing the housingin a closed and unlocked configuration;

FIG. 14 is the same perspective view as in FIG. 4, showing the housingin a closed and locked configuration;

FIG. 15 is a side view of the housing of FIG. 3, showing a solenoidplunger in a “resting” or “closed” position; and

FIG. 16 is the same side view as in FIG. 15, showing the solenoidplunger in an “active” or “open” position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which shows an exemplary housing 300for a dispensing tube of a metering dispenser (not shown). The housing300 comprises a mounting half 302 for mounting the housing 300 to ametering dispenser and a strike half 304 for receiving plunger strikes,with the strike half 304 being carried by the mounting half 302. The useof the terms “mounting half” and “strike half” refer to the clamshellstructure of the housings described herein, and is not intended to implythat the mounting half and strike half are, or need be of equal size oridentical shape. Indeed, as will be apparent from the drawings, in theexemplary illustrated embodiment the mounting half 302 has asubstantially larger footprint than the strike half 304. Both themounting half 302 and the strike half 304 are preferably monolithic andare preferably formed from metal of suitable strength, more preferablyfrom aluminum, and most preferably from anodized aluminum. Othermaterials, such as plastic of suitable strength, may also be used. Themounting half 302 and the strike half 304 may be made of differentmaterials.

The strike half 304 can move relative to the mounting half 302 so thatthe housing 300 has a closed and locked configuration (FIGS. 3, 4, 10,12 and 14 to 16), a closed and unlocked configuration (FIGS. 9, 11 and13), and at least one open configuration (FIGS. 5 and 6). To enable thehousing 300 to be placed into the various configurations, the strikehalf 304 is both pivotally and slidably carried by the mounting half302, as described in greater detail below. The mounting half 302 and thestrike half 304 each have respective tube-receiving 302A, 304A and outerfaces 302B, 304B. The outer face 302B of the mounting half may bemounted to a metering dispenser, and when the housing 300 is in theclosed and locked configuration and in the closed and unlockedconfiguration, the tube-receiving faces 302A, 304A face one another.

As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the illustrated embodiment themounting half 302 has a mounting half tube channel 306 defined in itstube-receiving face 302A for receiving a flexible dispensing tube 308 ofthe metering dispenser, and a plunger aperture 310 is defined throughthe mounting half 302, and in particular through the mounting half tubechannel 306, for receiving a plunger 380 (see FIGS. 15 and 16). Thestrike half 304 has a strike half tube channel 312 defined in itstube-receiving face 304A, and has a plunger strike surface 314 (FIG. 6)on the tube-receiving face 304A interrupting the strike half tubechannel 312. In the illustrated embodiment in which the mounting half302 and the strike half 304 are made from metal, in particular anodizedaluminum, the plunger strike surface 314 is preferably integral with themonolithic strike half 304; in embodiments where the strike half 304 isformed from a material not suitable for withstanding direct plungerstrikes, a separate plunger strike plate may provide the plunger strikesurface. While the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 3 to 16 shows theplunger strike surface 314 as a recessed part the tube-receiving face304A, in other embodiments the plunger strike surface may be coplanarwith the remainder of the tube-receiving face aside from the strike halftube channel.

At least when the housing 300 is in the closed and locked configuration(FIGS. 3, 4, 10, 12 and 14 to 16) the strike half 302 partially coversthe mounting half 302 so as to obstruct access to the mounting half tubechannel 306, and the strike half tube channel 312 cooperates with themounting half tube channel 306 to form a dispensing tube passage 316through the housing 300. The dispensing tube passage 316 receives thedispensing tube 308 of the metering dispenser and positions thedispensing tube 308 for engagement by a plunger of the meteringdispenser. Moreover, at least when the housing 300 is in the closed andlocked configuration (FIGS. 3, 4, 10, 12 and 14 to 16) the plungerstrike surface 314 is in registration with the plunger aperture 310 toreceive a plunger head.

In other embodiments, the strike half may omit any strike half tubechannel, and the mounting half tube channel may be correspondinglydeeper, so that the entire dispensing tube can be accommodated withinthe mounting half tube channel.

As noted above, the strike half 304 is both pivotally and slidablycarried by the mounting half 302. The strike half 304 is pivotallycarried by the mounting half 302 so as to be pivotable, relative to themounting half 302, between a first pivotal position in which the strikehalf 304 at least partially covers the mounting half tube channel 306(FIGS. 3, 4 and 8 to 16); and a second pivotal position (FIG. 6) inwhich the strike half 304 exposes the mounting half tube channel 306.The strike half 304 is further slidably carried by the mounting half 302so that, at least when the strike half 304 is in the first pivotalposition, the strike half 304 is slidable, relative to the mounting half302, between a first slide position (FIGS. 3 to 6, 10, 12 and 14 to 16)and a second slide position (FIGS. 7, 9, 11 and 13). When the strikehalf 304 is in the first slide position and is also in the first pivotalposition (FIGS. 3, 4, 10, 12 and 14 to 16), pivotal movement of thestrike half 304, relative to the mounting half 302, from the firstpivotal position toward the second pivotal position is obstructed. Whenthe strike half 304 is in the second slide position, pivotal movement ofthe strike half 304 relative to the mounting half 302 from the firstpivotal position to the second pivotal position is permitted.

The angular distance between the second pivotal position and the firstpivotal position of the strike half 304 relative to the mounting half302 should be such that the strike half 304 exposes the mounting halftube channel 306 and hence the dispensing tube 308. As shown in solidlines in FIG. 6, in the illustrated embodiment an angular distance ofabout 90 degrees from the first pivotal position is sufficient for thestrike half 304 to expose the mounting half tube channel 306 and thedispensing tube 308. However, in the illustrated embodiment shown inFIGS. 3 to 16, the second pivotal position of the strike half 304relative to the mounting half 302, shown with broken lines in FIG. 6,has an angular distance slightly greater than 180 degrees from the firstpivotal position. This provides greater access to the mounting half tubechannel 306 for removal of an old dispensing tube 308 and installationof a new dispensing tube 308. The second pivotal position shown withbroken lines in FIG. 6 is a limit position defined by engagement of thepivot-side sidewall 324 of the strike half 304 with the pivot sidesidewall 326 of the mounting half 302. Alternately, if it is desired todefine the second pivotal position at a lesser angular distance from thefirst pivotal position, such as about 90 degrees as shown in solid linesin FIG. 6, a suitable stop can be provided on one or more of themounting half 302, the strike half 304 or the metering dispenser itselfadjacent the housing 300.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 16, the strike half 304is hingedly carried by the mounting half 302 by way of a pivot 328extending between the mounting half 302 and the strike half 304 and onwhich the strike half 304 is rotatably received so as to be rotatableabout the pivot 328 between the first pivotal position and the secondpivotal position. In particular, the pivot 328 is a cylindrical rodcarried at its ends by two opposed pivot carriers 330 extending from thetube-receiving face 302A of the mounting half 302 adjacent thepivot-side sidewall 326 of the mounting half 302, and the pivot 328 isrotatably received in a barrel 332 extending from the pivot-sidesidewall 324 of the strike half 304. As best seen in FIGS. 3, 11 and 12,the barrel 332 is shorter in length than the distance between the facingedges 334 of the pivot carriers 330, that is, the edges 334 of the pivotcarriers 330 that face one another. This enables the barrel 332, andhence the strike half 304, to slide along the pivot 328 between thefacing edges 334 of the pivot carriers 330, which act as stops to limitthe movement of the barrel 332 and strike half 304 and thereby definethe first slide position and the second slide position.

In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 16, pivotal movementof the strike half 304 relative to the mounting half 302 is independentof sliding movement of the strike half 304 relative to the mounting half302. In other words, the strike half 304 can slide relative to themounting half 302 without pivoting relative to the mounting half 302,and the strike half 304 can pivot relative to the mounting half 302without sliding relative to the mounting half 302.

As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 6 to 10, in the particular exemplaryembodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 16, the strike half 304 has a pluralityof locking fingers 336 extending from the distal sidewall 338 of thestrike half 304, that is, the sidewall 338 that is distal from thepivot-side sidewall 324 of the strike half 304. The locking fingers 336are longitudinally spaced apart from one another along the distalsidewall 338 of the strike half 304 so as to define locking finger gaps340 between each adjacent pair of locking fingers 336. As used herein,the term “longitudinally” refers to the sliding motion of the strikehalf 304 relative to the mounting half 302.

The mounting half 302 has a plurality of latch arms 342 extending fromthe tube-receiving face 302A of the mounting half 302, adjacent thedistal sidewall 344 thereof, that is, the sidewall 344 distal from thepivot-side sidewall 326 of the mounting half 302. Similarly to thelocking fingers 336, the latch arms 342 are spaced longitudinally apartfrom one another so as to define latch arm gaps 346 between eachadjacent pair of latch arms 342. As best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, thelatch arms 342 are each generally L-shaped and comprise a spacer portion348 extending from the tube-receiving face 302A of the mounting half 302and a retaining portion 350 extending from the outer end of the spacerportion 348 toward the pivot-side sidewall 326 of the mounting half 302.Each latch arm 342 thereby forms a receiving slot 352 between theretaining portion 350 and the tube-receiving face 302A of the mountinghalf 302 for receiving a respective locking finger 336.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 10 and 14, when the strike half 304 is in the firstpivotal position and the first slide position, each locking finger 336is in registration with its respective latch arm 342, inside thereceiving slot 352 formed by the respective latch arm 342. This is theclosed and locked configuration (FIGS. 3, 4, 10, 12 and 14 to 16), andin this configuration each latch arm 342, in particular the retainingportion 350 thereof, engages its respective locking finger 336 toobstruct movement of the strike half 304 from the first pivotal positiontoward the second pivotal position. Conversely, as shown in FIGS. 9 and13, when the strike half 304 is in the first pivotal position and thesecond slide position, each locking finger 336 is out of registrationwith its respective latch arm 342, and hence outside of the receivingslot 352 formed by the respective latch arm 342. This is the closed andunlocked configuration (FIGS. 9, 11 and 13). In this closed and unlockedconfiguration, the retaining portions 350 of the latch arms 342 do notengage the respective locking fingers 336, and therefore movement of thestrike half 304 from the first pivotal position toward the secondpivotal position is permitted.

As can be seen by reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, when the strike half 304moves between the first pivotal position and the second pivotal positionwhile in the second slide position, each of the upper three latch arms342 fits in a corresponding locking finger gap 340, and each of thelower three locking fingers fits in a corresponding latch arm gap 346.As best shown in FIG. 8, the underside of each of the locking fingers336 forms a tapered guide surface 354 that slopes generally upwardlytoward the tube-receiving face 304A of the strike half 304. As thestrike half 304 moves into the first pivotal position, it may be not beprecisely in the second slide position, i.e. the strike half 304 may beslightly lower than the second slide position, so that the lockingfingers 336 are not in registration with the latch arm gaps 346. In thiscase, the tapered guide surfaces 354 will engage the retaining portions350 of the corresponding latch arms 342 and guide the strike half 304upwardly into the second slide position as the strike half 304 movesinto the first pivotal position.

Instead of providing tapered guide surfaces on the undersides of thelocking fingers, or in addition thereto, the upper surfaces of theretaining portions may comprise tapered guide surfaces sloping upwardlytoward the tube-receiving face 302A of the mounting half 302. Similarly,in alternate embodiments the strike half may have the latch arms and themounting half may have the locking fingers.

To facilitate locking and unlocking of the housing 300, the strike half304 should be slidable along the pivot 328 between the first slideposition and the second slide position at least when the strike half 304is in the first pivotal position. In the illustrated embodiment shown inFIGS. 3 to 16, the strike half 304 is slidable along the pivot 328between the first slide position and the second slide position at anypivotal position of the strike half 304 relative to the mounting half302.

It is contemplated that in other embodiments (not shown), the strikehalf may only be able to slide between the first and second slidepositions when the strike half is in or nearly in the first pivotalposition. In one exemplary implementation, the pivot carrier that islowermost when the housing is in an upright position may include aprojecting portion extending toward the barrel to define a partialshoulder, and the end of the barrel closest to that pivot carrier mayinclude a corresponding recess. In such an implementation, sliding ofthe barrel, and hence the strike half, would only be permitted when theprojecting portion and recess were in registration with one another;when the projecting portion and recess were out of registration theshoulder on the projecting portion would engage the non-recessed part ofthe end of the barrel to prevent sliding of the barrel along the pivotand thereby prevent any substantial sliding of the strike half relativeto the mounting half. Accordingly, by arranging the projecting portionand recess so that they will only be in registration when the strikehalf is in or nearly in the first pivotal position, the projectingportion will engage the end of the barrel to maintain the strike half inthe second slide position unless the strike half is in or nearly in thefirst pivotal position. When the strike half is in or nearly in thefirst pivotal position, the projecting portion and recess will be inregistration so that the projecting portion on the lowermost pivotcarrier is received in the recess as the barrel slides toward that pivotcarrier to enable the strike half to slide from the second slideposition to the first slide position. Such an arrangement could also beconstructed to prevent or inhibit the access portion from pivoting fromthe first pivotal position to the second pivotal position unless theaccess portion were in the second slide position, by arranging theprojecting portion and the recess so that a side of the projectingportion would engage a side of the recess so as to block pivoting unlessthe access portion is in the second slide position.

Operation of a metering dispenser incorporating a housing as describedherein, such as the housing 300, is similar to operation of a meteringdispenser incorporating the prior art housing 14. Reference is now madeto FIGS. 15 and 16, which show the exemplary housing 300 in the closedand locked configuration with a dispensing tube 308 installed thereintogether with a solenoid plunger 380. The exemplary solenoid plunger 380shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 is of the type shown and described in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/880,016, to which the present applicationclaims priority (published as US2012/0061599A1) and correspondingCanadian Patent Application No. 2714916, the teachings of each of whichare hereby incorporated by reference. As with the illustration of theprior art housing 14 and prior art solenoid plunger 16, in FIGS. 15 and16 the other components of the metering dispenser, such as the solenoiditself, related control systems, the support structure and otherelements, have been omitted for clarity of illustration as theseelements and their placement will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

FIG. 15 shows solenoid plunger 380 in the “resting” or “closed”position, in which the closure member 382 on the plunger head 384 isreceived in the plunger aperture 310 in the mounting half 302 of thehousing 300, compressing the dispensing tube 308 and pinching it againstthe plunger strike surface 314, thereby inhibiting material flow pastthe closure member 382. The solenoid plunger 380 may be maintained inthis position by, for example, a suitable biasing member such as aspring (not shown). To dispense material, the solenoid (not shown) isactuated to move the solenoid plunger 380 into the “active” or “open”position, as shown in FIG. 16, for a fixed period of time beforedisengaging the solenoid and allowing the solenoid plunger 380 to returnto the “rest” or “closed” position shown in FIG. 15. While the solenoidplunger 380 is in the “active” or “open” position (FIG. 16), thedispensing tube 308 is unobstructed, enabling a predetermined volume ofliquid or granular material to move past the position of the solenoidplunger 380 before the solenoid plunger 380 returns to the “rest” or“closed” position (FIG. 15), again obstructing the dispensing tube 308.

When the reservoir is empty and must be replaced, the user first movesthe strike half 304 from the closed and locked configuration (FIGS. 3,4, 10, 12 and 14 to 16) to the closed and unlocked configuration (FIGS.9, 11 and 13) by sliding the strike half 304 upwardly along the pivot328 from the first slide position to the second slide position. With thestrike half 304 in the second slide position, the user pivots the strikehalf 304 from the first pivotal position through the intermediatepivotal position shown in FIG. 7 to the second pivotal position, therebyplacing the housing 300 in an open configuration (FIGS. 5 and 6). Thisenables the dispensing tube 308 of the empty reservoir to be replacedwith the dispensing tube 308 of the new reservoir. When the housing 300is installed, the strike half 304 will be biased toward the first slideposition by gravity, especially when it is made of metal and can slidesmoothly along the pivot 328. At any time after the locking fingers 336are clear of the latch arms 342, the user can allow the strike half 304to slide under gravity from the second slide position to the first slideposition, or alternatively can hold the strike half 304 in the secondslide position while replacing the dispensing tube 308. Once thereservoir and flexible dispensing tube 308 have been replaced, the userthen pivots the strike half 304 from the second pivotal position throughthe intermediate pivotal position shown in FIG. 7 toward the firstpivotal position and, if the user has not held the strike half 304 inthe second slide position, slides the strike half 304 into the secondslide position. This enables the upper three latch arms 342 to enter thecorresponding locking finger gaps 340 while the lower three lockingfingers 336 enter the corresponding latch arm gaps 346. Thus, when thestrike half 304 reaches the first pivotal position, the strike half 304will be in the second slide position and therefore in the closed andunlocked configuration (FIGS. 9, 11 and 13). The user can then eithermanually move the strike half 304 into the first slide position or,where the strike half is heavy enough and can slide smoothly along thepivot 328, the user can simple release the strike half 304 and allow itto fall into the first slide position under gravity, in either casereturning the housing to closed and locked configuration (FIGS. 3, 4,10, 12 and 14 to 16). To enable the strike half 304 to fall into thefirst slide position under gravity to transition from the closed andunlocked configuration to the closed and locked configuration, theclearance between the locking fingers 336 and the receiving slots 352formed by the latch arms should be sufficient to enable the strike half304 to fall smoothly into place. The strike half 304 includes an uppergrip recess 388 in its outer face 304B and a lower grip recess 390defined in the lower edge of the strike half 304 to assist a user ingrasping and moving the strike half 304.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, a pair of mounting bores 356 are definedthrough the mounting half 302 on either side of the mounting half tubechannel 306. The mounting bores 356 each include an intermediate annularshoulder 358 (FIG. 7) and can receive a bolt (not shown) for securingthe mounting half 302 to a metering dispenser, as is known in the art.

A temperature sensor aperture 360 (FIG. 5) is also defined through themounting half 302, in the mounting half tube channel 306 above theplunger aperture 310, for receiving a thermistor 362 or othertemperature sensor. Where the mounting half 304 is made from aluminum oranother suitable material having good thermal conductivity, the need foran insert made from such material is obviated.

In addition, as best seen in FIG. 6, a closure sensor aperture 364 isdefined through the mounting half 302 for receiving a closure sensor,such as the illustrated reed switch 366 which detects a rare earthmagnet (not shown) held by a bolt or screw 370 in a correspondinglypositioned magnet aperture 368 defined in the tube receiving face 304Aof the strike half 304. The closure sensor aperture 364 and the closuresensor 366 may be positioned on either side of the housing.

Certain currently preferred embodiments have been described by way ofexample. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that a numberof variations and modifications can be made without departing from thescope of the claims. The above description is intended in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense. Variations to the exactembodiments described may be apparent to those skilled in the relevantart without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims set outbelow. It is intended that any such variations be deemed within thescope of this patent.

1. A housing for a dispensing tube of a metering dispenser, comprising:a mounting half for mounting the housing to a metering dispenser; astrike half for receiving plunger strikes; the strike half carried bythe mounting half; the mounting half having a mounting half tube channeldefined therein for receiving a dispensing tube; the mounting halfhaving a plunger aperture defined through the mounting half tube channelfor receiving a plunger; the strike half having a plunger strikesurface; the strike half being pivotally carried by the mounting half soas to be pivotable, relative to the mounting half, between: a firstpivotal position in which the strike half at least partially covers themounting half tube channel; and a second pivotal position in which thestrike half exposes the mounting half tube channel; and the strike halffurther being slidably carried by the mounting half so as to be slidablerelative to the mounting half, at least when the strike half is in thefirst pivotal position, between: a first slide position in which pivotalmovement of the strike half relative to the mounting half from the firstpivotal position toward the second pivotal position is obstructed; and asecond slide position in which pivotal movement of the strike halfrelative to the mounting half from the first pivotal position toward thesecond pivotal position is permitted; wherein, at least when the strikehalf is in the first pivotal position and in the first slide position,the plunger strike surface is in registration with and facing theplunger aperture to receive a plunger head.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The housingof claim 1, wherein: one of the mounting half and the strike half has atleast one locking finger; the other one of the mounting half and thestrike half has at least one latch arm extending therefrom; each latcharm forming a receiving slot for receiving a respective locking finger;wherein: when the strike half is in the first pivotal position and thefirst slide position, each locking finger is in registration with itsrespective latch arm, inside the receiving slot formed by the respectivelatch arm, so that each latch arm engages its respective locking fingerto obstruct movement of the strike half from the first pivotal positionto the second pivotal position; and when the strike half is in the firstpivotal position and the second slide position, each locking finger isout of registration with its respective latch arm and outside of thereceiving slot formed by the respective latch arm whereby movement ofthe strike half from the first pivotal position toward the secondpivotal position is permitted.
 4. The housing of claim 1, wherein: theat least one locking finger comprises a plurality of locking fingersspaced longitudinally apart from one another to define a locking fingergap between each adjacent pair of locking fingers; the at least onelatch arm comprises a plurality of latch arms spaced longitudinallyapart from one another to define a latch arm gap between each adjacentpair of latch arms; wherein, when the strike half moves between thefirst pivotal position and the second pivotal position while in thesecond slide position: at least one latch arm fits in a correspondinglocking finger gap; and at least one locking finger fits in acorresponding locking arm gap.
 5. The housing of claim 4, wherein eachof at least one of the plurality of locking fingers and the plurality oflatch arms has a tapered guide surface for guiding the strike half intothe second slide position as the strike half moves into the firstpivotal position.
 6. The housing of claim 3, wherein each of at leastone of the at least one locking finger and the at least one latch armhas a tapered guide surface for guiding the strike half into the secondslide position as the strike half moves into the first pivotal position.7. The housing of claim 1, wherein the strike half has a strike halftube channel defined therein; the strike half tube channel cooperatingwith the mounting half tube channel, when the strike half is in thefirst pivotal position, to form a dispensing tube channel.